AML had kindly provided Sharpie pens and guests were encouraged to write messages on every surface of the car. I believe that the company were planning to preserve the car, messages and all, although I cannot find out if this is actually true.
The graffiti car concept returned in 2017 when a ‘spare’ Rapide S was made available for visitors to AML Employee weekend to leave messages.
On first glance,the DBS based Zagato bears some resemblance to both the Volvo P1800 and perhaps the Lancia Hyena yet it could not be described as either retro or dated. Typically, the DBS Zagato features a double-bubble roof profile, but this has been set off by a beautifully curved, one-piece polished aluminium strip that begins at the car’s beltline, across the top of the rear window and back down to the other side. The double-bubble roof curves continue over the rear screen and onto the bootlid.
The satin alloy grille will surely be a delight to fans of the 1960’s DBS. Just like the DBS, it extends almost the full width of bespoke the front of the car and also houses the interestingly styled projector headlight unit. At the rear, the car is neatly finished by new light clusters, an aggressive rear diffuser and curious trapezoidal exhaust pipes.
The 20 inch wheels are straight from the donor DBS V12 as is the running gear, ceramic brakes and 510 bhp spec AM08 engine. The interior of the car appear to have been unmodified from the regular car.
The car was also shown the following year at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show on the stand of the Italian car magazine, Quattroruote. By the time the public had been admitted to the show, the car had been surrounded by rather ugly metal barriers and giving a rather poor view of the most beautiful car at the show. A press release issued during the show confirmed the existence of a third Centennial Zagato, a Virage based Shooting Brake, which was eventually shown in late summer 2014.
The car has been commissioned by a young and prestigious Japanese entrepreneur who has preferred to remain anonymous. Apparently, their are no plans for the DBS Coupe Zagato into even limited production.
During the Lancaster House event, Aston Martin and Chinese investment group, ChinaEquity, announced an agreement to explore the development of a production version of the RapidE concept. If successful, the new luxury sports car was intended to be constructed at Aston Martin’s global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, with plans to be brought to market in around two years (call it 2017). It went on to be displayed in support of a creative summit organised by the British government’s successful GREAT campaign to showcase the best of what the UK has to offer and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in the UK.
Aston Martin CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said at the time: “We see luxury electric vehicles as an intrinsic part of our future product portfolio and welcome ChinaEquity into the next phase of study for the project development. The exciting RapidE concept tangibly demonstrates the capability and ambition of Aston Martin towards developing low- and zero-emission sports cars.”
The original RapidE concept was developed by AML in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, an off shoot of Williams F1 at its facility in Grove, Oxfordshire.
No technical details of the RapidE were given but a video released on the companies YouTube channel demonstrates the near silent running qualities of the concept. I did read of 800 bhp, all wheel drive and 200 mile range but I suspect that was mere speculation or wishful thinking or maybe both.
The virtually finished car, renamed the Rapide E was finally shown at various key motorsports events during the summer of 2019.
Further dynamic enhancements centre on the V8 Vantage’s chassis, which features more developments from the V8 Vantage S. The steering was quickened and the brakes were the same as fitted to the ‘S’ with new 380mm two-piece ventilated cast-iron front discs and six piston callipers. A neat and useful new feature was Hill Start Assist (HSA) for more precise control on steep inclines. The V8 Vantage MY2012.25 also came fitted with tyres from the ‘S’ that were 10mm wider than fitted previously.
The exterior of the car is almost impossible to distinguish from the higher powered V8 Vantage S, especially if the ‘V-spoke’ wheels are fitted instead of the standard fit forged 10 spoke items. The car has received the N420 style sills although these are not quite as pronounced as those on the ‘S’ and have a noticeable upsweep ahead of the rear wheel arch. The aerodynamic splitter and rear diffuser are similar to those on the ‘S’. They were made of high quality black plastic although the carbon fibre items from the S were available as a cost option, making identification between the two models potentially even more difficult. Despite the comprehensive updates, the list price of the regular ‘non-S’ V8 Vantage coupe was kept attractive and competitive with UK cars offered from just £84,995 inc VAT.
How to identify the discerning features of the ‘non-S’ late V8 Vantage. Whilst the S and non-S are almost identical, the side sills are narrower and the front and rear lower panels are made from black plastic on the less expensive non-S version.
The regular V8 Vantage was discontinued from the range during the summer of 2016, leaving the V8 Vantage S as the entry level Aston Martin model.
With enhanced vehicle dynamics and engine performance, the Rapide S Shadow Edition claimed to provided a more engaging driving experience. The car features an uprated version of the familiar V12 engine (565 bhp) mated to the familiar 8-speed Touchtronic III Transmission, a Sports Exhaust and optional 3-stage Adaptive Damping fitted as standard.
This particular example, above, was seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012, finished in Morning Frost White with Spicy Red leather interior. It is also fitted with seven-speed Sportshift II and carbon pack.
Telling the regular Vantage Roadster from the ‘S’ version is not easy, as both are available with a choice of manual or Sportshift II paddle shift transmissions and the same choice of wheel options. The regular car does not have the exclusive stitching on the door cards of the ‘S’, just has a ‘Vantage’ badge on the rear, has slightly less pronounced side sills (especially noticeable at the back of the sill) and the front splitter is not made from carbon fibre unless specified when new. To make doubly sure, the ‘S’ has the AM15 engine, the regular Vantage has the AM14 engine.
The regular V8 Vantage Roadster was discontinued from the range during the summer of 2016.
The SP10 was rather special as it the first time that the higher performance Vantage S was made available with the six speed manual gearbox. Back in 2011, when the V8 Vantage S was introduced, the seven speed Sportshift 2 gearbox was the only option. With the SP10 it was also possible to specify the regular Sportshift 2 gearbox as an option too.
The cosmetic specification of the SP10 is as follows.
Although the SP10 was initially a special edition, production of the car continued well into 2015, such was it’s popularity.
The car was finished in unique Hackett Blue with an interior made of an Obsidian Black Semi Aniline Leather and Prince of Wales check fabric with a tight grey pattern and subtle blue overcheck in the seat and door inserts. This fabric was sourced from flannel supplier, Fox Brothers in Somerset. The facia was of unvarnished beech-wood veneer with the rotary switches knobs hand-turned in solid beech by an American artisan.
The price tag is believed to be around £195,000 (roughly £40,000 higher than the base price for the Rapide S.
The photo of this car are from the inaugural Aston Martin Heritage Trust festival in 2021.
The V8 Vantage Roadster Centenary Edition is an especially rare car. The Aston Martin Heritage Trust is only aware of four every having been built. All four were built with left hand drive and with the Sportshift II transmission option. Two of the four were the more powerful ‘S’ model.
No photographs are currently known of these cars so AML have kindly provided renderings.
A striking presence on the Aston Martin stand, the Rapide AMR provided a dynamic and visual blueprint for future AMR models. Featuring a 595 bhp version of Aston Martin’s celebrated 5.9 litre naturally aspirated V12, as already used in the Vanquish S, breathing through a new quad exhaust system. The Rapide AMR is claimed to be the world’s fastest and most thrilling four-door, capable of 210 mph. Resplendent in AMR’s signature new Stirling Green with vibrant lime green accents, riding on new 21in alloy wheels and featuring a dramatic new full height signature grille, front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser and aero flip on the rear decklid, the Rapide AMR makes a striking statement.
Extensive use of carbon fibre detailing on the exterior provide the perfect finishing touches. The interior is equally breathtaking. Lightweight carbon fibre front seats, trimmed throughout in Dark Knight Alcantara with Lime Green accents and carbon fibre waterfall, centre console and door casings, ensure the Rapide AMR is a fabulous fusion of race car attitude with a luxurious crafted twist.
Total production of the Rapide AMR was not planned to exceed 210 examples.
